German defence spending faces criticism amid shifting political landscape
Economist Moritz Schularick has criticised Germany's defence procurement strategy, while new polling shows the AfD widening its lead amid coalition policy disputes.
Economic researcher Moritz Schularick, president of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, has criticised German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius for allocating substantial funding toward traditional military hardware rather than modern defence systems. Schularick argued that projected spending through 2030 remains overly concentrated on conventional platforms, including tanks and frigates, rather than next-generation technologies.
The scrutiny coincides with shifting domestic political dynamics in Berlin. A recent Deutschlandtrend survey indicated that the Alternative for Germany has expanded its lead over the centre-right CDU/CSU, with increasing public acceptance for pragmatic, case-by-case parliamentary cooperation. Concurrently, the federal government continues to manage internal friction concerning planned pension reforms and climate protection measures.
Sources: Der Spiegel, Die Zeit, DW, FAZ, Tagesschau